Gymnastics Coaching.com

Michigan State senior gymnast Kathryn Mahoney (Western Springs, Ill.), who underwent successful surgery to stabilize her C6 vertebra after fracturing it while vaulting in a Dec. 29 practice, was discharged from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago on Friday, April 8. Mahoney will now continue her rehabilitation with the RIC as an outpatient from her home. …

The Spartans dedicated their 2011 season to Mahoney by wearing removable tattoos on their cheeks in the shape of a heart around a $ to signify Mahoney’s nickname, Money. The logo was also etched into each their leotards this season on the left shoulder. …

A fund has been set up for Kathryn Mahoney at the MSU Federal Credit Union, and donations will be used for any necessities that she needs as she begins the post-operative, recovery stage. …

MSU Spartans

Related links:

• Full In Full Out – Kathryn Mahoney update
• WLNS – MSU Gymnast Returns After Devastating Accident (VIDEO)

GOOD LUCK to everyone at Provincials in my home Province.

Lethbridge, AB…More than 500 athletes, judges and coaches from across Alberta will gather in Lethbridge to participate in the 2011 Artistic Gymnastics Provincial Championships on April 15 – 17. The Alberta Gymnastics Federation and the West Wind Gymnastics Club are proud to host this provincial competition which is being held at the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness at the University of Lethbridge. …

AGF

official competition home page

This is one of the best introductions I’ve yet seen on the transition.

Click PLAY or watch Raj on YouTube.

Cirque du Soleil scout Stacy Clark will be attending both WAG and MAG NCAA Championships, but there’s no kiosk this year. (Leave a comment on this post if you wish to rendezvous with her in person.)

Last chance to apply for the audition in Orlando, FL, May 8 & 9, 2011.

Thanks Marceline.

~ by site editor Rick McCharles

Men’s NCAA Championships, April 14-16, Columbus, Ohio

Women’s NCAA Championships, April 15-17, Cleveland, Ohio

details on USAG – NCAA Gymnastics Championships take over Ohio

I depart tomorrow, my first trip to Ohio. Aside from jumping back and forth between the College Championships, I’ll drop in on Region 5 Championships running concurrently in Cleveland.

… And I should find time to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Cleveland Rocks.

Will try to arrange a meet up after one of the competitions at each NCAA meet.

EliteAthlete10 on College Gymnastics Board asks ” What team will be the first to wear these as part of their warmups?”

Unorthodox Gymnastics is pondering something a little more extreme, designed by Kobi Levi.

I heard of no scandal or controversy regarding Miss Tatiana at Europeans. Perhaps she’s maturing.

Click PLAY or watch her impressive Bars on YouTube. (age 9 age-10 at that meet)

littlemissgymnast has video of her Floor and Beam (already in heel pads) – When we were young – Tatiana Nabieva

Anne on Gymnastike is posting previews of teams leading up to NCAA Championships this coming weekend in Cleveland.

The one I’ve liked best (so far) is Georgia. It’s a superb run down of how a Head Coach thinks and plans for the peak meet of the year.

… they are coming in this year with something to prove after falling short of the Championships last season. We chatted with head coach Jay Clark to give an in-depth preview of this year’s Georgia team, their potential lineups for the Championships, and some of their key athletes.

The 2011 Georgia Gymdogs are: Bekah Bennetts, Mariel Box, Kati Breazeal, Lindsey Cheek, Noel Couch, Kat Ding, Kaylan Earls, Cat Hires, Hilary Mauro, Cassidy McComb, Laura Moffatt, Gina Nuccio, Christa Tanella, and Shayla Worley.

Georgia will compete in the first of two preliminary sessions, facing UCLA, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Illinois.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/NTM1NDgzMDY5

Watch more video of 2011 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics National Championships on gymnastike.org

Jay’s looking much more relaxed than earlier this season …

“Nothing to lose. Compete fearlessly.”

Don’t count Georgia out.

I think Florida will win. But if they falter it will be Oklahoma or Oregon State, a team that has not yet won. If #1 Alabama or UCLA wins it all, … I’ll be surprised. Not shocked, but surprised.

Update: read Aunt Joyce’s – Georgia Championships preview

Coach Howard has been posting prolifically on Gymnastics Zone.

He has a detailed write-up of how athletes should prepare for practice, summarized in a checklist.

• Physical Preparation for Practice
• Psychological Preparation for Practice
• Steps for Success on the Day of Practice
– What to Do When You Get to Practice
– Learn Visually
– What to Do After Practice

Open the document on your computer –
How To Get The Most Out Of Every Gymnastics Practice (PDF)

I got that by subscribing to his website. Recommended.

There’s much, much more on Gymnastics Zone.

IG updates us on Aliya Mustafina’s impending knee surgery:

Accompanied by the Russian team’s interpreter, Mustafina went to Munich for surgery at one of the top clinics in Germany.

“Aliya could have had surgery in Berlin,” Rodionenko said. “But local experts themselves insisted that it’s better to contact one of the clinics in Munich that specializes in knee joints. This is where the great German tennis player Boris Becker had surgery and where the German national football team goes.”

But this is the most interesting part of that article:

Chusovitina, who has competed for Germany since 2006, went to the same expert for knee surgery after the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Chusovitina, who turns 36 in June, won the silver medal on vault at the 2008 Olympics and in Berlin.

“If she does surgery at the right place and has proper rehabilitation, trust me, she can vault,” Chusovitina told newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets.” “The doctor the Russians are going to operated on me. Same knee, but I had another problem. After Athens I could not vault, nor even really do anything. After eight months of looking for the cause, only this doctor figured out what was wrong. I had the surgery, and after two weeks I was walking without pain. Believe me, he’s really a professional of the highest class. For 30 years he’s been operating only on knees.” …

read more – Mustafina Heads to Munich for Knee Surgery

Oksana Chusovitina, legend.

She’s training to break her own record of 5 Olympics, still competing at the highest level. And it looks to me she’s still ticked when she doesn’t WIN.

In 1991 there was Lavinia Milosovici. She won the World title on vault. Today (in 2011) we have another Romanian who won the European Title on vault – Sandra Izbasa. 20 Years, but the silver medalist is the same…and her name is: Oksana Chusovitina. Impressive!!! …

Fangymnastics – From Lavinia Milosovici to Sandra Izbasa…20 years with Oksana Chusovitina

I did a little better on day 2 of Finals, predicting 2 of the 5 gold medals: Gymnastics Examiner – Pick a podium: Europeans event finals, predictions and realities II

My biggest mistake in forecasting Europeans, however, was counting out our beautiful Olympic Floor Champion Sandra Izbasa.

VAULT
1 IZBASA Sandra ROU 14.675
2 CHUSOVITINA Oksana GER 14.537
3 KAESLIN Ariella SUI 14.475

FLOOR
1 IZBASA Sandra Raluca ROU 14.500
2 CHELARU Diana Maria ROU 14.475
3 BELOKOBYLSKAYA Yulia RUS 14.450

Click PLAY or watch her Vaults on YouTube.

With Izbasa on the team, Romania could win the Olympics … if you don’t count Bars. She’s yet another wonderful Romanian gymnast … who they can’t compete on Bars.